Anna’s Story

Anna had a heart for others.

Anna Jerome was a very happy, friendly and smart girl. She was a daughter, a twin, a big sister, a cousin, a student, an athlete, a band member and a friend. She attended the elementary school where her mother taught with her brother and sister. When she received her diagnosis of AML, an aggressive form of Leukemia, the summer before her freshman year at Boston Latin school, the whole community was shaken. Anna enjoyed shopping, music and going to Patriot games with her "padre". But, most of all she loved the beach: Cape with her cousins or Myrtle Beach with her family. Anna loved life and especially loved going out and enjoying it.

She was incredibly kind and thoughtful. She made a difference in the lives of all around her. After Anna's first round of treatment and achieving remission, her doctors told her that she was eligible for Make A Wish. She declined, stating that she was already fortunate and the Wish should be offered to someone who really needs it. It is with all of this in mind that Anna's Pals was created. We hope to continue her legacy of kindness.

Anna was acutely aware of the patients in the hospital who were alone, without a parent, or visits from friends, as she had a really strong friend group, frequently referred to as “the Pals,” who visited her everyday at the hospital. The Pals were such a presence that the nurses referred to Anna's room as the Party Room. When she received her Bone Marrow Transplant those visits ended; her immune system was wiped out. Her friends could only briefly come in, one at a time, and once released from the hospital, only immediate family could come in the house.

Anna's Pals is working to create a beach house for immunocompromised patients. We would love to give them a place, outside of the clinical setting, to gather with family and friends. These patients are isolated from the outside world. We would like to provide an opportunity for these families to enjoy time together, to allow these kids to be kids; a place where friends can visit for the day, and the kids can feel at ease. Every child patient should have a Party Room surrounded by Pals, and the beach house will give them that.

Written by Kristina Jerome, Anna’s Mom